WIMBLEDON, ENGLAND — As I sat in a nearly empty Center Court in a nostalgic mood on Sunday, young people toting bulky racket bags kept climbing the staircases and stepping inside with their eyes turned upward.

They were players, coming to take a peek at the newest roof in tennis, which was fully retracted Sunday, its folds of transparent material bunched together between the arches of solid white superstructure.

“A powerful thing,” said Neuza Silva, a qualifier who on Monday will become the first Portuguese player to play singles on Center Court when she faces Serena Williams.

Roger Federer, a five-time champion here, has played plenty on Center Court and made his reconnaissance mission last week.

“It didn’t lose anything of the whole history part,” Federer said. “It still remains, you know, the best court in the world. I’m excited to be going out there on Monday.”

In normal circumstances, Federer would not be stepping on to his favorite patch of grass until Tuesday. For a change, he is not the defending champion here, after losing to Rafael Nadal last year in a final that will remain part of the Wimbledon conversation for decades to come.

But with the top-seeded Nadal having withdrawn Friday because of tendinitis in both knees, Federer — as a finalist last year — will get to keep enjoying the honor of playing the first match of the tournament on the most famous court in tennis.

It will be his first match of the year on grass, thanks to the break he took to decompress after winning his first French Open. His opponent will be Yen-Hsun Lu of Taipei.

Federer has skipped the short grass-court circuit before, doing so in 2007 and then going on to win his fifth straight title at Wimbledon.

“It’s been easy to digest winning in Paris, not hard,” he said. “For me, it did me an enormous amount of good to be in Switzerland for a week, to do nothing except a bit of physical training and to see my family, my friends and everyone. It did me a lot of good in the head and to prepare for what was to come.”

Federer said he still had not been able to answer all the congratulatory text messages and e-mails he received and still had not succeeded in speaking directly with Pete Sampras, the American whose record of 14 Grand Slam singles title they now share.

“We still haven’t managed to talk to each other,” he said. “But I’ll try again, and he’ll keep trying, too.”

Federer is not the only man whose unexpected success in Paris has made his life more hectic than usual. Robin Soderling, the Swede who upset Nadal in the fourth round and then reached the final, has been busy reliving the tournament: giving news conferences and appearing on television and radio programs in Sweden. His country had not had a Grand Slam finalist since Thomas Johansson won the Australian in 2002 and has only one player in the top 100 now: Soderling.

“We needed this,” Soderling told Swedish reporters. “Because if we want to bring back the interest in our sport, and create a new generation of players, we needed a leader.”

Soderling, who will start on Court 1 on Monday against Gilles Müller of Luxembourg, is still the only Swede in the singles draw at Wimbledon, but there was another positive sign for the future in Paris when Daniel Berta won the boys singles title.

Soderling, seeded 13th, and Federer could meet in the round of 16 at Wimbledon, and there are other dangerous grass-court players in Federer’s quarter, including Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France, Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano López of Spain and the huge-serving Croatian ace machine, Ivo Karlovic.

But there can be no doubt about who is the favorite to win the tournament, even if Andy Murray of Britain, the top seed in the other half of the draw with Nadal missing, has beaten Federer in their past four matches.

“Federer’s made the last six finals of Wimbledon,” Murray said. “He’s obviously the big favorite going into the tournament. I’ve never won a Grand Slam before. I think I’ve got a chance of doing it here. But I need to play my best tennis ever to do it. It’s not like it’s going to come easily. Slams don’t come easily, and I’m sure the guys that have won them will tell you that. I understand how big a challenge it is.”

Federer has actually won some Wimbledons with little apparent difficulty: sweeping through the draw in 2005 and 2006 with the loss of just one set each year. But Murray, who will face the American Robert Kendrick in the first round, is clearly Federer’s most obvious threat this year. In the absence of Nadal, he is also the only man who could create a final match-up with Federer that could transcend — at least in Britain — the best rivalry in sports.

It has been 73 years since a British man — Fred Perry — won the singles title here.

“You can either deal with that stuff or you can’t,” Murray said of the intense interest he generates at home. “I think that I don’t get caught up in the whole, you know, hype thing, getting involved in reading all the papers, listening to what everyone else is saying. Because at the end of the day, it makes no difference if some guy think I can win the tournament. The guys that I work with and myself, it’s important what they think about my game and how we approach all of the matches. But I think I can deal with it.”

The British press, always quick to look for Wimbledon rubbing points, has already been emphasizing that Federer has not always been appropriately respectful or complimentary in defeat against the 22-year-old Murray. But Federer said he was at peace with his approach.

“That surprises me,” he said. “But there were some matches where I was not 100 percent, like in Shanghai for example. It was visible. It was clear. I was sick. I had a sore back and all that. I’m not going to say he’s the best player of all time if I had a sore back and also considering that I wasn’t far from beating him.

“I’ve always been honest. But I’ve always said 100,000 times that he’s an exceptional player with loads of talent, and a player I think will win Grand Slams. I just thought, at one stage, that he’d have, in fact, more success more quickly. Sometimes perhaps I was too severe with him, but he took it too personally. So that’s too bad for him. I don’t care too much what he says. I feel I was always straight with him.”

“That surprises me,” he said. “But there were some matches where I was not 100 percent, like in Shanghai for example. It was visible. It was clear. I was sick. I had a sore back and all that. I’m not going to say he’s the best player of all time if I had a sore back and also considering that I wasn’t far from beating him.

“I’ve always been honest. But I’ve always said 100,000 times that he’s an exceptional player with loads of talent, and a player I think will win Grand Slams. I just thought, at one stage, that he’d have, in fact, more success more quickly. Sometimes perhaps I was too severe with him, but he took it too personally. So that’s too bad for him. I don’t care too much what he says. I feel I was always straight with him.”

true but lets just pray it escalates to that level =] Players who hate each other play so much better against each other.

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Lol, true. It definitely makes it more exciting, to me at least. Although TW would be a nightmare. People would be spending more time talking about interviews and what a player said, rather than talking about the actual matches.

Lol, true. It definitely makes it more exciting, to me at least. Although TW would be a nightmare. People would be spending more time talking about interviews and what a player said, rather than talking about the actual matches.

More like some betting guys flooding the press with Murray has a big chance kind of news. We will have more money on him and someone will make big money out of those idiots who trade after reading newspapers or listening to TV.

murray, nadal and djokovic dont bow down to federer like safin, hewitt and roddick. murray and co. dont think federer is jesus when playing him. they dont kiss federers arse like the others. murray dont even like federer, and neither does djokovic. they think federer is a nobody bullying a weak era before they came, nadal has more respect for federer but none of those 3 fears federers game.

murray, nadal and djokovic dont bow down to federer like safin, hewitt and roddick. murray and co. dont think federer is jesus when playing him. they dont kiss federers arse like the others. murray dont even like federer, and neither does djokovic. they think federer is a nobody bullying a weak era before they came, nadal has more respect for federer but none of those 3 fears federers game.

djokovic's family hates federer, its very clear, especially his dad. i remember at monte carlo after federer said to be quiet to them, djkovic hit a winner off of a federer smash the very next point and djokovic's dad was up and clapping and yelling at federer. and in miami when federer broke his racket, djokovics dad was up and clapping and with a massive grin on his face. they dispise federer to the core. its clear federer and djokovic absolutely hate eachother u can tell from their interviews and at the handshake at the net.

djokovic's family hates federer, its very clear, especially his dad. i remember at monte carlo after federer said to be quiet to them, djkovic hit a winner off of a federer smash the very next point and djokovic's dad was up and clapping and yelling at federer. and in miami when federer broke his racket, djokovics dad was up and clapping and with a massive grin on his face. they dispise federer to the core. its clear federer and djokovic absolutely hate eachother u can tell from their interviews and at the handshake at the net.

djokovic's family hates federer, its very clear, especially his dad. i remember at monte carlo after federer said to be quiet to them, djkovic hit a winner off of a federer smash the very next point and djokovic's dad was up and clapping and yelling at federer. and in miami when federer broke his racket, djokovics dad was up and clapping and with a massive grin on his face. they dispise federer to the core. its clear federer and djokovic absolutely hate eachother u can tell from their interviews and at the handshake at the net.

having dealt with murray personally (as a stringer), I can say that he is a total dick in person. moreso than any other player we've dealt with.

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That settles it, then. Kind of easy to just say that and not back it up. I remember one guy on here claiming Murray not only refused a kid an autograph, but inexplicably just pushed him away. :lol: People like to make stuff up about players they dislike. Here's how easy it is.

Having dealt with ms87's mother while serving her while she was shopping for groceries, I can honestly say that she is the biggest ***** I've ever dealt with. More so than other customers.

That settles it, then. Kind of easy to just say that and not back it up. I remember one guy on here claiming Murray not only refused a kid an autograph, but inexplicably just pushed him away. :lol: People like to make stuff up about players they dislike. Here's how easy it is.

Having dealt with ms87's mother while serving her while she was shopping for groceries, I can honestly say that she is the biggest ***** I've ever dealt with. More so than other customers.

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there are many things I admire about Murray's game.

its silly that you dismiss my post simply because you don't like it. how do you suggest I "back it up"? I'm just stating my opinion.

That settles it, then. Kind of easy to just say that and not back it up. I remember one guy on here claiming Murray not only refused a kid an autograph, but inexplicably just pushed him away. :lol: People like to make stuff up about players they dislike. Here's how easy it is.

Having dealt with ms87's mother while serving her while she was shopping for groceries, I can honestly say that she is the biggest ***** I've ever dealt with. More so than other customers.

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Also a few months back someone claimed on this board that there was a news article about Murray throwing coffee in someone's face IN ENGLAND. Yet somehow no evidence to back up that claim could be found.

Also a few months back someone claimed on this board that there was a news article about Murray throwing coffee in someone's face IN ENGLAND. Yet somehow no evidence to back up that claim could be found.

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Oh yeah, I remember that. I think it was Love Game who made that claim. I don't think she's had any luck finding that article yet. :lol:

The British press, always quick to look for Wimbledon rubbing points, has already been emphasizing that Federer has not always been appropriately respectful or complimentary in defeat against the 22-year-old Murray. But Federer said he was at peace with his approach.

“That surprises me,” he said. “But there were some matches where I was not 100 percent, like in Shanghai for example. It was visible. It was clear. I was sick. I had a sore back and all that. I’m not going to say he’s the best player of all time if I had a sore back and also considering that I wasn’t far from beating him.

“I’ve always been honest. But I’ve always said 100,000 times that he’s an exceptional player with loads of talent, and a player I think will win Grand Slams. I just thought, at one stage, that he’d have, in fact, more success more quickly. Sometimes perhaps I was too severe with him, but he took it too personally. So that’s too bad for him. I don’t care too much what he says. I feel I was always straight with him.”[/I]

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Honestly, Federer shouldn't really "care too much" about what Murray says. Murray said Federer said bad things about him his game. Waaaaa! Murray sounds like some schoolboy spoilt brat just because Federer made some critical comments about his game that Murray went off to tell his Mommy about. Now his Mommy will probably write an article to the Telegraph about it and it'll get prime time coverage on the back (and front?) page. Typical British media hype. Honestly the British Press is despised just for this reason, they are a load of journalistic hacks with whom sensationalism is the order of the day.

Honestly if you were Federer, the generally-accepted G.O.A.T. acclaimed by almost everyone from Sampras, Agassi, to McEnroe and Laver, with almost $50 million in prize money alone, and the poster-boy good looks and celebrity lifestyle, would you honestly care what some ugly scottish kid with 0 grand slams to his name said, someone that only beat you in non-GS events over 3 sets and you spanked his ass in the only real big mach you ever played against each other? Fed has not only won 14 Grand Slams but equalled Lendl's record of 19 GS Finals. How many Grand Slam finals did Murray get to? A single solitary 1. Murray seems to want to ride on his H2H with Federer but seems to want everyone to forget the little big fact about his wins against Federer: they all came in non-Grand Slam events.

I doubt very much Federer really gives a flying continental what Murray has to say. Federer like all truly great champions lets their game do the talking not their mouth. Murray, Djokovic, they do just the opposite, their mouth surpasses their game by some considerable margin.

Honestly, Federer shouldn't really "care too much" about what Murray says. Murray said Federer said bad things about him his game. Waaaaa! Murray sounds like some schoolboy spoilt brat just because Federer made some critical comments about his game that Murray went off to tell his Mommy about. Now his Mommy will probably write an article to the Telegraph about it and it'll get prime time coverage on the back (and front?) page. Typical British media hype. Honestly the British Press is despised just for this reason, they are a load of journalistic hacks with whom sensationalism is the order of the day.

Honestly if you were Federer, the generally-accepted G.O.A.T. acclaimed by almost everyone from Sampras, Agassi, to McEnroe and Laver, with almost $50 million in prize money alone, and the poster-boy good looks and celebrity lifestyle, would you honestly care what some ugly scottish kid with 0 grand slams to his name said, someone that only beat you in non-GS events over 3 sets and you spanked his ass in the only real big mach you ever played against each other? Fed has not only won 14 Grand Slams but equalled Lendl's record of 19 GS Finals. How many Grand Slam finals did Murray get to? A single solitary 1. Murray seems to want to ride on his H2H with Federer but seems to want everyone to forget the little big fact about his wins against Federer: they all came in non-Grand Slam events.

I doubt very much Federer really gives a flying continental what Murray has to say. Federer like all truly great champions lets their game do the talking not their mouth. Murray, Djokovic, they do just the opposite, their mouth surpasses their game by some considerable margin.

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You're right. Federer beat him in all those Grand Slam matches. I mean, he's beaten him over 5 sets on a number of occasions.

Lol, true. It definitely makes it more exciting, to me at least. Although TW would be a nightmare. People would be spending more time talking about interviews and what a player said, rather than talking about the actual matches.

Oh wait, a lot of people already do that.

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Good observation. I would still like to know what DelP said about Murray's mum, if anything. It sure got Murray pi*sed.

i hope murray kicks federer's arse. someone has to bring federer's ego back down to earth, its unbearable right now the gloating of that ego. since nadal is not there to bring federer back to earth, murray and djokovic has to step upto the plate. we saw in the french when there is no nadal, federer cruises to these slams. there needs to be balance in the mens game and nadal provided that but now in his absence someone has to step upto the plate.
losing nadal is a massive blow for the balance of mens tennis, now its grossly overbalanced towards federer. not healthy for the sport. a fit and healthy nadal can pretty much take the entire mens locker room to the clearners 90% of the time!

murray and djokovic has to play well. they need to stop dropping their nuts in slams against federer.

Its clear Fed has nothing personal against Murray and only justified himself.
I dont think it bothers him what Murray thinks,since he obviously has more pressing matters on his mind both personally and professionally.
So its not a Mac-Connors kinda thing
I dont give a rats ass about Murray.I like his game and he is still my second favourite player but his 'talk the talk' is of no concern to me as of now.

djokovic's family hates federer, its very clear, especially his dad. i remember at monte carlo after federer said to be quiet to them, djkovic hit a winner off of a federer smash the very next point and djokovic's dad was up and clapping and yelling at federer. and in miami when federer broke his racket, djokovics dad was up and clapping and with a massive grin on his face. they dispise federer to the core. its clear federer and djokovic absolutely hate eachother u can tell from their interviews and at the handshake at the net.

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I bet Djokovic would have traded those two victories over Roger (Miami and Rome) for that shiny Roland Garros trophy. Maybe even for the shiny Madrid plate.